Ha-Ha Entries Off to an Explosive Start

Lynn Ringseis stands at the helm of Profligate in typical Baja Ha-Ha first-leg conditions. This will be the 21st year the 63-ft catamaran has served as the mothership. Lynn has done close to 10 of them on Profligate, and just recently completed a Pacific Puddle Jump.

More than 50 paid boats signed up for this fall’s Baja Ha-Ha in the two hours after registration opened at noon on May 9. As of Monday morning, the total had reached 78 boats for this 24th edition. Between 135 and 180 entries are expected.

The Ha-Ha, of course, is the 750-mile cruiser rally from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, with R&R stops at Turtle Bay and Bahia Santa Maria. In between there's lots of great sailing, sea life, adventure on the water and the world-famous ’Nuevo Loco Baseball’ game between the cruisers and the Mexican kids at Turtle Bay.

The first Ha-Ha R&R stop is at Turtle Bay, about 360 miles south of San Diego. It's home to an improbably beautiful baseball field, where the cruisers take on the Mexican kids in ultra fast-paced baseball action. Almost every boat in the photo is a Ha-Ha boat.

The term ‘cruiser rally’ means that entries can use their engines whenever they want — except at the starting line — although they will be penalized. While times are kept, the Ha-Ha is not a race. Indeed, about 75% of the boats never turn in their times. Due to the miraculous Ha-Ha handicap system, no boat can finish worse than third in its class.

The event starts with the Halloween Costume Kick-Off Party on Sunday, October 29, with the actual sailing starting at 11 a.m. on Monday, October 30. The event wraps up with the awards ceremony in Cabo San Lucas on Saturday, November 11.

So far, two boats are tied for the smallest entry. They are #70, SweePea, Steve Fisher and Robin Fisher-Johnson’s Spirit 28 from San Diego, and #53, TrueLove, Michael Carran’s Hunter 28 from Dana Point.

Two entries are tied for the largest sailboats entered. They are #8, Mariposa, Roger Adams and Sandra Peach’s Horstman 55 trimaran from San Diego, and #69, Angantyr, Erik Oistad’s Abeking & Rasmussen 55 from Marina del Rey.

But the biggest entry so far is Sarah and Nathaniel Layton’s Monk 65 motoryacht Liahona from Spunky Puddle, Ohio. Spunky Puddle? Yep, it’s a ghost town in Ohio.

A lot of Ha-Ha vets have signed up again. Patsy Verhoeven will be doing her record 10th Ha-Ha with her La Paz-based Gulfstar 50 Talion, while, if we’re not mistaken, Myron and Marina Eisenzimmer will be doing their ninth with their Swan 44 Mykonos, from San Francisco.

The Ha-Ha is open to boats over 27 feet that were designed, built and have been maintained for open-ocean sailing. There must be at least two crew, and they must have overnight sailing experience. Everyone on the Ha-Ha needs to put safety first, but be looking to have a fun and responsible time.

Phaedo3 Trying for Transpacific Record

May 15, 2017
– Honolulu, HI

On Thursday, the MOD70 Phaedo3 left Long Beach to challenge the World Sailing Speed Record Council's official Transpacific record.

According to the most recent post on Phaedo's Facebook page, the famed trimaran has been sailing for one day and 18 hours. The transpacific record for the 2,225-mile run between Los Angeles and Diamond Head on Oahu is three days and 18 hours, set by the 105-ft Lending Club 2 in 2015.

Slower than an airplane, but faster than any boat the average mortal has set foot on, Phaedo3 is challenging the three-day, 18-hour Los Angeles-to-Hawaii (or transpacific) record.

Phaedo3 has been "trucking along at 29 knots," according to their Facebook post. "Onboard for the record attempt are: Lloyd Thornburg, Brian Thompson, Justin Slattery, David Swete, Peter Cumming, Fletcher Kennedy and Henry Bomby."

We have a reporter on the ground in Honolulu who will be updating this story on Wednesday. Best of luck and safe travels to Phaedo3 and her crew.

As we speak, this boat is about 12 hours from Hawaii and in contention for a new record.

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Stranded Paddleboarder Found Safely

May 15, 2017
– San Rafael, CA

On Sunday the Coast Guard found a paddleboarder who had been stranded overnight on the Marin Islands off San Rafael. Jane Butler was reported missing by her son after she failed to return from an evening paddle.

Early Sunday morning, 60-year old Butler was found paddling back toward San Rafael. She said she spent the night on the "largest of the Marin Islands," which are about a mile from the entrance of San Rafael Creek.

A paddleboarder spent the night on East Marin Island, on the far right, after being stranded by the tide on Saturday night.

Butler told the Coast Guard that she'd been stranded by the tide and was unaware that the Coast Guard was looking for her. "The Mission City patrol boat crew said they checked for her with their thermal imager, but she did not give off a heat signature," the press release said. "The officers said her heat signature was likely masked because she was wet and wearing a wet-suit top."

While undoubtedly cold and tired, Butler was uninjured.

"The Coast Guard wants to emphasize the importance of checking the tides and weather before going out on the Bay due to the dynamic nature of the elements," said Captain Tony Ceraolo, the commander of Sector San Francisco.